Post Congress Tour 8-10 June 2018

The Local Organizing Committee is happy to offer you a unique two-day extension of your congress.

The programme of this post congress tour has been prepared in combination with activities in the framework of Leeuwarden Cultural Capital of Europe.

Leeuwarden-Friesland (or Leeuwarden-Fryslân) is European Capital of Culture in 2018. Cultural Capital of Europe is an international cultural project and one of Europe’s most ambitious events. According to the European jury, the Frisian mienskip (community) was the reason that Leeuwarden-Friesland was chosen as Cultural Capital of Europe in 2018. The unique involvement of Frisians with their immediate surroundings, family, neighbours, associations and corps made a big impression. The iepen mienskip – open community – is the theme of the programme with more than 800 projects.

Programme

Friday, June 8th

A visit to the Afsluitdijk

Directly after the closing ceremony your bus will leave for the Afsluitdijk. The Afsluitdijk is a unique causeway over a length of 32 kilometers, running from the province of North Holland to the province of Friesland. It is a fundamental part of the larger ‘Zuiderzee Works,’ damming off the former Zuiderzee, a salt water inlet of the North Sea, and turning it into the fresh water lake of the IJsselmeer.

Short city walk and dinner

Around 6.00 PM you will arrive in Leeuwarden. After arrival at the hotel there is a short city walk and dinner in Leeuwarden.

Overnight stay in Leeuwarden.

Saturday, June 9th

In the morning, you can explore the city of Leeuwarden on your own

Some suggestions:

Exhibition of M.C.Escher at the Fries Museum

M.C. Escher is perhaps Leeuwarden’ most famous resident, a fact unknown to a large number of Escher fans. He was born in 1898 in the city palace on the Grote Kerkstraat, the building that now houses the Princessehof National Museum of Ceramics. The Museum of Friesland is organising a major exhibition about M.C. Escher for 2018. In the exhibition visitors accompany Escher on his physical and intellectual journeys. His unique development is mapped out with more than 50 early and late original prints. The exhibition shows how travelling and stays in Spain and Italy influenced his artistry. Visitors meet Escher the person, and walk in his footsteps. The exhibition is designed as a three-dimensional biography: it truly feels as if you enter into Escher’s headspace.

Discover the 11 fountains of Friesland

Eleven of the world’s leading artists were linked to the eleven Frisian cities and their residents. Each of them has designed a fountain that fits a city and its history. Not just fountains, but exceptional contemporary works of art that uniquely highlight the rich history and culture of the Frisian cities. The Spanish sculptor Jaume Plensa created an overwhelming piece of art in front of the Leeuwarden railway station.

Visit the curved Tower of the Oldehove

Construction of this leaning, curved and unfinished tower began in 1529. The original plan included attaching a new church to the tower, which would replace the old Saint Vitus church, but this was never realized. Master builder Jacob van Aken was unlucky from the start, because the tower began to sink during construction. In an effort to compensate for the tilt, it was decided to continue to build perpendicular on top of the leaning bottom. Because of this the tower is also curved. Construction was subsequently halted in 1533 and has never been resumed. The tower never reached its intended height of about 120 m. Although the Oldehove has never been used for special purposes, it acquired a symbolic status nevertheless.

Pay a visit to the Boomsma Beerenburger Museum.

Beerenburg is a typical Frisian drink, made by adding herbs to jenever. The Boomsma Museum, is a traditional distillery, completely refitted in nineteen thirties style. An interactive film shows the origins of Boomsma Beerenburger and how it’s made. And of course you can enjoy the taste of the famous Beerenburger.

Boat trip on the Frisian lakes

In the afternoon you will enjoy the Frisian scenery on board a classic salon boat. You will make a boat trip on the Frisian lakes, through narrow Frisian streams and the picturesque villages of Woudsend and Sloten.

Oranjewoudfestival

The Oranjewoudfestival is a festival with classical music, jazz and music theatre originally presented on magnificent locations in Oranjewoud. From 12 to 22 hours short classical and cross-over performances continuously take place in the free accessible festival heart De Proeftuin.

Night of the Park from 22.30 – 01.00 hours. The fairytale-lit Overtuin is the setting for a fantastic night program. Step into a fairytale world in which light is displaced by darkness, dream and reality blend together and the silence now and then makes for wonderful sounds. The Night of the Park consists of two parts:

Sunday, June 10th

Oranjewoud

The morning is free to spend as far as time allows.

Walk through Oranjewoud

The forested area around the small village of Oranjewoud is ideally suited for a one or two-hour stroll. Enjoy the magnificent 18th century villa’s in this area, which once was the summer residence of members of the royal family. Walking around you might also

Visit museum Belvédère – museum of modern and contemporary art

Departure by train from Heerenveen to Schiphol – time of departure depending on your individual travelling schedule.

Included: all transfers, stay in 4-star hotels in Leeuwarden and Oranjewoud or Heerenveen including breakfast, dinner on Friday, June 8th (drinks not included), boat trip, lunch a board on Saturday, June 9th.

If you wish to register for the post congress tour please send and e-mail to info@irpa2018europe.com before April 1st 2018.
Reactions received after April 1st, but before May 1st will be considered, taking into account that program and accommodation might be subject to change.